I’ll be honest — there are not a ton of targets I love this week, so I had to dig a bit deeper than I normally would. In any event, the four players below could be legitimate fantasy contributors in the coming weeks and months. Don’t be afraid to try riding some hot streaks if you have the roster flexibility to do so.
Waiver-Wire Targets:
Detroit Tigers 1B Spencer Torkelson — Tork’s numbers are slowly but surely beginning to catch up to his abilities. So far in May, he’s 12-for-36 with five extra-base hits, and they haven’t been cheap. In nine games, he has put 16 hard-hit balls in play, 10 of which have had exit velocities exceeding 102 mph. On the season, his expected stats suggest he has been a victim of bad luck. While he may never fully live up to the hype as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Torkelson is showing signs that he may not be a bust after all.
New York Yankees OF Harrison Bader — I typically shy away from players coming back from oblique injuries, even if they are deemed healthy. Those things tend to linger and impact performance. Bader, however, has been excellent since his activation from the injured list on May 2. He’s batting an even .400 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. Notably, too, he’s struck out just twice. I expect some regression here, as seven of his 12 hits have been on batted balls with sub-80 mph exit velocities, but if you’re in a pinch for an outfielder, Bader’s power-speed combo is intriguing.
Minnesota Twins RHP Bailey Ober — The news that Tyler Mahle will require Tommy John surgery is certainly a blow to the Twins, but it opens the door for Ober to stick in the rotation for a while. He was great in a 56-inning MLB sample last season and has consistently pitched well in the minors. Ober made his fourth big league start of the year on May 11, posting a quality start against the Padres without walking a batter. His ERA now sits at 1.85 and his WHIP at 0.90. I like Ober as a reliable depth starter going forward.
Baltimore Orioles RHP Yennier Canó — If your league incorporates holds, this one is an absolute no-brainer. If not, you should still get some save opportunities here and there, as Canó already has three on the season and potentially more as Félix Bautista continues to struggle with control. Regardless, he will contribute positively to your ratio stats. Canó has faced 57 batters this season, struck out 22 of them, and has allowed just four total baserunners. His 0.16 WHIP is absurd, and his ERA remains at 0.00 through 18.2 innings pitched.
Honorable Mention:
Los Angeles Dodgers DH J.D. Martinez
Los Angeles Angels 3B Anthony Rendon
Cleveland Guardians RHP Cal Quantrill
Miami Marlins RHP Eury Perez
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox